Fools Paradise

Loat was frozen in place with fear. He was just told he had to face the teacher on his own. How could he possibly defeat the teacher in a mock battle?

"Don't worry Loat I will only use what we have learned in class so far against you."

That did not make him feel any better. He knew from his brothers teachings that experience beats out skills any day.

Wittorf slaps Loat on the back and knocks him back into reality. He saw that his good friend was panicking and had to remind him of the goal at hand.

"Don't think of him as the teacher, think of his as your next step towards the Military Mage Division."

Loat gave Wittorf a smirk and nodded. That's right, all he had to do was focus on the task at hand and don't let anything get in his way.

He grabbed his training sword from his belt and drew it. It was dulled on purpose. He promised himself he would never draw a sharp blade until the day he entered in the Division.

Steel gave a determined look and called out.

"Alice, come count down for us!"

An older well endowed woman who took the shape of a serpent from the waist down and the appearance of a school teacher from the waist up appeared out of thin air.

"You called for me Steel?"

"I will be conducting a match with this student. Please count down for us and keep score of who lands a direct hit to the chest."

"Yes master, as you command."

The snake woman raises her hand and out comes green flames. The flames shoot up into the air before bursting into small fireworks.

Loat focuses his energy into his sword and readies it.

"Energy slash!"

A wave of energy slices out of the sword towards Steel who just stands there.

Raising his arms in a power stance Steel calls out.

"Energy Shroud!"

Energy begins pouring out of his hands and covering his body in a layer of energy. He extends his hands out to block the incoming attack.

The attack lands in his hands and he grasps it before shattering it into dust. Loat is surprised at his abilities but also understands that he's going to have to work harder than that to win.

Steel still does not move. Loat takes this time rush forward and slash two more times creating slicing waves towards Steel.

"Gauge your opponent before running in recklessly."

Steel raises his hands and goes to grab both attacks. Loat takes that time to swing once more directly in the center.

Steel looks at the third one and smiles.

"Did you think having my hands full would stop me from blocking your attacks?"

Raising his foot in the air he kicks the third attack away from him. Loat stops for a moment. If those aren't going to work what was he supposed to do, what else could he think to do with his sword?

Breaking the other two attacks in his hands Steel rushes forward towards Loat. Distance was closed instantly as Steel seemed to sprint unnaturally fast towards Loat. He swung an arm around to land at Loats chest.

Loat did everything in his power to block the attack with his sword and was pushed away by the mere force of the blow.

Sliding away Loat kept his footing and began running away from Steel.

"Never turn your back on your opponent!"

Running towards Loat, Steel raised his hand and called out a command.

"Dull energy blast!"

A bolt of energy slams into Loats back and he coughs up some spit as he lunges forward onto his knees. Trying to get back up Loat notices a shadow appear in front of him. He looked up to see Steel directly in front of him now.

"If you don't do something fast you aren't going to win this."

He was no match against a teacher, what made him even think he stood a chance? Loat grips his sword and prepares for the finishing blow.

"What are you doing Loat, are you giving up that quickly?"

Shouted Wittorf from the stands, more students started cheering as well supporting the young spell-sword.

Loat could hear their words of encouragement but what could he do against someone who was stronger and faster than he was?

"That's it!"

Raising his leg back Steel prepared to kick Loat square in the chest.

"Energy shroud!"

Energy envelops Loat as he raises his sword to block the incoming blow. The kick connects with the sword and instead of being pushed back like before. Loat is able to hold it off even push him back a little.

"Ah so you see where my power comes from and decided to try and mimic it?"

Jumping back Steel prepares for the next attack.

"Unless you know how to control the flow of your mana, that ability will drain you quickly."

He could feel it too. The shroud of energy was quickly sapping his strength. If he was going to do something he needed to do it quickly.

Close combat seemed like his only option so he decided to close the distance between him and Steel as quickly as he could. The boost in speed he gained from the shroud surprised him a little but he quickly adjusted to it.

Swinging his sword with skill Loat tried to land a blow on Steel but he was dodging just as easily. It was tough to keep this up. Loat needed to use his trump card now.

"Energy flash!"

Loats sword began to glow bright as it blinded Steel who was not prepared for it. Using the time he had Loat swung his sword to land on Steel chest but was suddenly out of air as Steels fist slammed into his chest.

Loat went flying and rolled on the ground a few times before stopping. The shroud disappeared and he slowly got back up. Steel walked up towards him and extended his hand.

"Your brother would be proud of what you did today."

Grabbing his teachers hand Loat looked up surprised at the words that came out of Steels mouth. He knew about his brother and about his goals?

The class all gathered around Steel who smiled at them all.

"Some of you won today and some of you lost, but I hope you all learned more about yourselves today."

The students look at each other and smile. Steel beckons Alice over who promptly slithers over.

"This is Alice, my familiar. As mages you will all require a familiar to help guide you in your studies. "

Bowing, Alice looks over all the students, her sharp gaze almost petrifying as she speaks.

"Soon it will be your turn to make a contract with one of my kind. Do not take it so lightly."

He was excited now. Wittorf did not know when but he knew someday he would get his very own Familiar and that would be the start of his adventure. Reading fairy tales in the past he had heard about the first time a human made a contract with a Familiar.

It was long ago before people even knew about magic. Ever since that day mages began sprouting up left and right. He was going to be one of those mages soon.

"Everyone your assignment for today is to find something precious to you and bring it class tomorrow."

Something precious? Wittorf didn't have many precious things in his life aside from Lana. He was certain he was not allowed to bring her to class. So it looks like he will have a long day ahead of him.